Mangala, who arrived from Porto in 2014 for a fee of £32m, is understood to be joining the Toffees on a loan deal.

Everton have been interested in signing a left-sided central defender since the summer, with City willing to allow Mangala to leave after bringing in Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for a club-record fee of £57m.

Reports had linked Newcastle with the player, however, it seems Everton boss Sam Allardyce could be set to make his third signing of the January window following the signings of Cenk Tosun (£27m) from Besiktas and Theo Walcott (£20m) from Arsenal.

Mangala revealed to Sky Sports News in November that he feared his lack of first-team involvement under Pep Guardiola could cost him his place in the France squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.

The 26-year-old has made 15 appearances for the Premier League leaders in all competitions this term, often deputising for Vincent Kompany and John Stones when the pair have been injured.

Jamie JacksonEliaquim Mangala is currently in discussions with Everton regarding personal terms, so at the moment the French centre-back’s favoured move is to Goodison Park. However he seemed likely to go to Crystal Palace in the summer and decided against that so he may, again, decide to stay at Manchester City to the end of the season. West Ham United and Newcastle United remain options, too.

Mangala close to becoming an Everton playerDom King has all the latest news from Merseyside...

'Everton still waiting to announce Eliaquim Mangala’s signing. He is currently at the club’s Finch Farm training base, where he has completed a medical and is finalising paperwork. It is a slow process but the deal will be done before the deadline passes.'

France international centre-back Eliaquim Mangala has completed a loan move to Everton from Manchester City for the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign, subject to clearance from the Premier League.

Mangala has featured nine times in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola’s trailblazers this season and was a key figure in City’s run to the 2015/16 Champions League semi-finals.

The 26-year-old said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play for Everton and I cannot wait to pull on the royal blue jersey for the first time and give my all for the supporters.”

Mangala began his career with Standard Liege, making his debut as a 17-year-old in December 2008 and winning the Belgian title in his first campaign with the club.

He left for Porto in 2011 – after scoring in Standard’s Belgian Cup final victory on his farewell appearance – and subsequently won two league championships with the Portuguese giants.

Mangala was an integral part of the Porto side which went through the 2012/13 league campaign unbeaten and conceded only 14 goals on their way to retaining the title.

The defender – capped eight times by his country and a member of the French squad at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championship finals – moved to England in 2014 and has played 79 games for City.

He spent the 2016/17 season on loan with Spanish team Valencia, where he featured in 30 La Liga matches, including a 2-1 victory in February over eventual Spanish and European champions Real Madrid.

Everton have signed France defender Eliaquim Mangala from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season, subject to Premier League clearance.The centre-back, 26, is the club's third signing of the January transfer window following deals for winger Theo Walcott and striker Cenk Tosun.

Mangala, who joined City from Porto in a £32m deal in 2014, has started just four Premier League games this season.

The 23-year-old French defender's arrival from Spain on Tuesday was expected to lead to Mangala leaving, given the Premier League leaders can now call on Laporte, John Stones, Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi for the centre-back position.

Mangala has played 79 times for City in all competitions since moving from Portugal but spent much of the 2016-17 season on loan at Valencia.